Maze sequel blazes no new trails

"You don't need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows," but these days, a guide through the seemingly endless flurry of pop culture offerings is just what we need. With that in mind, here is what's on the radar screen in TV, music and film for the coming week.

“You don’t need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows,” but these days, a guide through the seemingly endless flurry of pop culture offerings is just what we need. With that in mind, here is what’s on the radar screen in TV, music and film for the coming week.

MOVIES Big Release on Sept. 18: Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials Big Picture: It’s the Maze Runner sequel – a poor man’s Hunger Games, based on James Dashner’s young-adult novel trilogy. Thomas (Dylan O’Brien) and his fellow Gladers (the maze kids who survived Part 1) duke it out again with their overseers at WCKD, the nefarious organization with the most transparent acronym in postapocalyptic history. The youngins are forced into Phase 2 of their sadistic overlord’s cruel experiment: the Scorch Trials. After potentially being infected with the Flare, a disease of unknown origins (though my guess is some kind of futuristic frat party), they must navigate “The Scorch,” which looks like crime-ridden ’80s New York transplanted to a desert, and then bombed into near oblivion. Obstacles, enemies and traitors abound. Game of Thrones’ Petyr Baelish (actor Aidan Gillen) fittingly portrays one of WCKD’s wicked leaders, spouting off about how “the world outside is hanging on by a very thin thread.”

Forecast: Maze Runner 2 will satisfy fans, but its path is predictable. A bigger, deadlier obstacle course? Secret rebels and a budding revolution against an evil empire? A conflicted young hero? Hmmm. Clearly, someone’s been reading Panem 101.

TV Big Events: Best Time Ever With Neil Patrick Harris (Sept. 15, CTV/NBC); Keith Richards: Under the Influence (Sept. 18, Netflix) Big Picture: Neil Patrick Harris’s new variety show promises prizes, pranks, sketches, stunts, musical numbers, magic, celeb appearances and games galore. The eight-episode, one-hour, live format – based on the popular British series Ant Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway – is meant to hook viewers with endless surprises. Meanwhile, Rolling Stone Keith Richards gets the documentary treatment from Oscar-winning director Morgan Neville (20 Feet from Stardom). Through interviews and archival footage, Neville examines the guitarist’s influences (from Buddy Guy to Muddy Waters) and songwriting process, while shedding light on the recording of Richards’ new album. The beauty of Netflix is you can turn on the subtitles to understand what the charismatic veteran rocker is mumbling about.

Forecast: I love NPH. But most things that describe themselves as “best” anything tend not to live up to their own hype. The variety show would have had a better chance if it was called Best Time Ever With Keith Richards. But given the profanity, nudity and substance abuse that could potentially involve, my concept is better left for premium cable or Netflix to explore.

MUSIC Big Releases on Sept. 18: Keith Richards (Crosseyed Heart), Lana Del Rey (Honeymoon) Big Picture: This Stone keeps rolling. Crosseyed marks Richards’ third solo album – and first since 1992. His diverse musical tastes are on full display, from blues and honky-tonk country to Southern-fried soul – and even reggae (Love Overdue) and funk (Substantial Damage). Richards’ smoky, Dylanesque vocals and multi-instrumental talents (guitars, piano and bass) have always made him the bigger solo threat than Sir Mick Jagger. (Norah Jones and Aaron Neville make guest appearances). Meanwhile, the haunting, dreamlike vocals of Lana Del Rey enchant on her fourth studio album. If the 30-year-old songstress had been around during the Stones’ heyday, she and Keith would have likely been fast friends. Del Rey’s synth-happy single, High By the Beach pretty much describes the recording process for most of the Stones’ classics. Del Rey’s selfdescribed “noirish” effort even includes a cover of Nina Simone’s Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood.

This Week's Flyers

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